smith



J. R. SMITH CAN OPENING Feb. 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1954 FIG.

R m w m JOSEPH R. SMITH BYWW%' A TTOR/VEY J. R. SMITH CAN OPENING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. JOSEPH R SMITH ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 Filed June 28, 1954 United States Patent Q 2,733,504 CANUPENiNd Joseph siaiflnsnrevepart, Lai ApplicationJime 28,.19'54,.s"enai1so. 439,627 A 6 laiinsf' e12 Bill- 621) which: is portable, ormay: be-permanent-lyl installed as desired.

A still further object of my invention 'i'stoprovidea can opening device encased in a-housing to keep ite-leanand-tfree ofdust, dirt, etc.

A still further objectis-to provide'a--can openinggdevice' whichissafe'in operation.

A still further object of my inventionisdo 'provide a cutter bar having; integralcutting: blades. u

Gtherand further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and claims.

The can openers in use today, especially the models for use where large quahtities'ofcanned'di'inks such as beer are opened, have many drawbacks, one of the most serious being that the force required to enable the cutter to penetrate the metal is so great that women or even men who use such devices soon tire and get blisters on their hands.

With the present invention, through a leverage and linkage system, only a very smal amount of pressure is required to force the cutter to penertate the top of the can.

Another drawback to the use of present day cutters of this type is the fact that the blades continually break and have to be replaced. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and provides for an enclosed, durable, easily operated can opener which can be either portable or permanently mounted.

Referring to the drawing in detail in which like numerals represent like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 represents a front elevational view of the device ready for use.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device with the housing removed.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the device with the housing removed.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 represents a base, having resilient feet 11 of rubber or other resilient material to give the device pressure absorbing means. Mounted on the base 10 is a bracket 12 having an inturned flange 13 that is secured to the base 10 by bolts 14. A portion 15 of the bracket is bent inwardly and downwardly to form a U-shaped slot 16. Mounted in the slot 16 for free movement is one end of a handle shaft 17 that is secured in the slot by bolt 18, the opposite end of the handle shaft 17 being provided with a rubber or plastic grip 19.

Mounted on the base 10 in spaced relation are tubes 20 and 21, each being provided with caps 22 that may be screw threaded on the tubes, or they may be secured by other suitable means. A reinforcing bar 23 is supported 2:. by the-- tubes, the portions resting om the caps' beiiig se curely fi'xed by' (rscrewsrnot sliown or-spot vvel'dedi It is'to be understood tlia't' if desired, the tube's 20- and 21,; caps 22r'gl and'bar 23may; be cast in one:-piece.= Within? each tube-is afislot' 24 that receives 'theendsa25 .of a: har 26, the end edges 27 of the bar' being spacd from the inner wall of the tubes:- The'bar 26"is'provided with a vertieal element on arm28"; the top ed'ger 29'being prb vided with'wa cam s'ur-faee 30. The bottornedgb-Bl of-the ban 26+is-provided--with containerpiercingpdihts 32 and. 33; the: portions 3'4 and 35* of. the bottom edge engiiged by the top-end ofi springs 36; the: springs beiiigihoused in the-t-ubes-20 and--21; thelowr endsofs the springs engageihgtt-hedop'face of base lih V l Pivotally mounted on one end on a-through bolt 37s en the outside wall of the tube 21, is one end of link 38, and passing: through theslot-r24- andintothedube -Zh, is one end 39 'ot link 4th that is-mountedfor pivotalarfioverneht on'bolt 3'k The end 4'1 of linlc'"40 passes' throdgh a slota 42in tube 20 andslot'42 in'one of the=icaps 22 for-a1" cuate movementu To the end 41'; of link 40tthere isip'iv otally connected: a sleeve 43'havingan internal thread thatreceives theathreaded en'd 4-4- of shaft 45', providing? ameans for adjustment between link's 30 a'nch 38. The end: 46 of shaft 45- is pivotally connected to Hula-38': ad jacent oneend by: abolt-47- or other suitablemeansaandl to the bolt'47 is attached one end 480i s'pringz lfiktthe' opposite end-50 engaging san'aperture-in the bar 23s- 'Fhe end portion 51 of" link 38 is-fslightly curved, arid at* tl'i'e end oh the link there is"-sec u'red-' by: nuts-52mm the shank of a ball and-socket-joinn53;. a sleeve 54'haviirg ah in ternal thread that receives: the threaded end 55of rod 56; the opposite-end 57 of rod'56 bei'ng-also threaded and itt ise-ngaged byinternal thfeads-in sleeve 59;' the*sleeve*hhV- ing a ball and socket+ joint 58- that .isr connected to and secured; to the handle'shafb 1% by nuts 6tl' on the sha'iik 61. The threaded ends of rod 56 provides a means for adjustment between handle shaft 17 and link 38.

The bracket 18 and the tubes 20 and 21, and the associated mechanism are enclosed by a cover 63, the cover being provided with a slot 64 in which link 17 of handle 19 may operate. Within the wall of the housing or cover there is an opening 65, and in the opening there is positioned a semi-circular plate 66 having flanges 67 that are secured to the inner wall of the housing by lock screws 68.

In the operation of the device, a can containing liquid therein is placed in the opening 65 until the wall of the can impinges the Wall of the semi-circular plate 66. In this position the can is within the housing or cover 63. Downward movement of the handle exerts a pull on the sleeves 57, 54 and shaft or rod 56 imparting a pull on link 38, which in turn imparts movement to shaft or rod 45 and sleeve 43, which in turn imparts a downward pull on link 40. During this movement the ball and sockets 53 and 58 yield, as well as compression spring 49. During downward movement of link 40, the lower edge of link 40 impinges the cam surface 30 forcing the bar 26 downwardly, the points 32 and 33 on the bar piercing the top end of a can, making openings in the top of said can. Downward movement of the bar 26 compresses springs 36. After the top of the can has been pierced, the handle is released and the springs 36 which have been compressed, now force bar 26 upwardly, the cam surface 30 forcing link 40 upwardly, link 40 in turn lifting sleeve 43 and rod 45, spring 49 assuming its normal position, and together with shaft 45 lifting link 38 upwardly, the movement of ball and socket 53 carrying with it sleeve 54,, rod 56 and sleeve 59, sleeve 59 moving on ball and socket joint 58 connected to arm 17, arm 17 then lifted to a position where it is ready for the next downwardly push.

Changes in details and construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: v

1. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket on said base, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation, slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, means on said bar responsive to said actuating means, and means on said bar for opening a can.

2. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket on said base, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation, slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, means on said bar responsive to said actuating means, means on said bar for opening a can, and means in said tubes to normally hold said bar in an inoperative position. a

3. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket on said bar, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation, slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, means on said bar responsive to said actuating means, means on said bar for opening a can, means in said tubes to normally hold said bar in an inoperative position, a handle pivotally connected to said bracket, and means connecting said handle to said actuating means.

4. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket on said base, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation, slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, means on said bar responsive to said actuating means, means on said bar for opening a can, means in said tubes to normally hold said bar in an inoperative position, a handle pivotally 4 connected to said bracket, means connecting said handle to said actuating means and means interposed between said actuating means at one end connecting said actuating means for pivotal movement when said handle is moved.

5. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket onsaid base, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation,

slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, means on said bar responsive to said actuating means, means on said bar for opening a can, means in said tubes to normally hold said bar in an inoperative position, a

handle pivotally connected to said bracket, means connecting said handle to said actuating means, means interposed and connected to said actuating means at one end connecting said actuating means for pivotal movement when said handle is moved, and means interposed between said actuating means and said bar for supporting said actuating means in an inoperative position.

6. A can opening device comprising a base, a pair of tubes and a bracket on said base, a strap secured to the top of said tubes to hold said tubes in spaced relation, slots in said tubes, a bar interposed between said tubes and having its end portions extending into said slots and tubes, actuating means connected to one of said tubes, a handle pivotally connected to said bracket, adjustable means connecting said handle with said actuating means, adjustable means connected to said actuating means at one end, means in said tubes responsive to movement of said bar, means on said bar for opening a can, and means connected to said strap and said actuating means to return from an operative position to an inoperative position said actuating means, adjustable means and said handle, the means in the tubes returning said bar to an inoperative position.

No references cited.

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